From Portland bookstores and comic shops to bike repair, kids’ resale, hair salons, and experience gifts that feel like instant core memories, these Reader Favorites are the places families reach for again and again.
🚲 Bike Store and Repair
🏆 Winner: River City Bicycles
As one of the best bike-friendly cities in the U.S., we have our fair share of bicycle shops. But when it comes to biking needs for the whole family, readers love River City Bicycles. This Portland shop is a go-to for families, with a wide selection of kid-friendly bikes, helmets, and accessories, plus expert staff who make shopping for little riders a breeze, it’s a place where cycling fun starts young.
TOP 5
Trek Bicycle Portland — A Reader Favorite for bikes, e-bikes, gear, and service across multiple Portland-area locations.
WashCo Community Bike (WashCo Bikes) — A Reader Favorite Washington County community bike shop and repair resource.
Sellwood Cycle Repair — A Reader Favorite neighborhood bike shop known for service and repairs.
Community Cycling Center — A Reader Favorite nonprofit bike shop and community hub offering repairs, refurbished bikes, and education.
Bikes for Humanity PDX — A Reader Favorite nonprofit focused on affordable bikes and building bike-maintenance skills.
📚 Book Store
🏆 Winner: Powell’s City of Books
Portland’s most iconic Reader Favorite bookstore is a choose-your-own-adventure in real life: new and used titles, rooms to wander, and the kind of browsing that turns a quick stop into an entire outing. Whether you’re hunting for the next great read, building a kids’ library, or grabbing a gift that feels personal, Powell’s City of Books is a Portland classic for a reason.
TOP 5
Annie Bloom’s Books — A Reader Favorite neighborhood bookstore with thoughtful picks and a welcoming community vibe.
MudPuddles Toys & Books — A Reader Favorite for pairing book browsing with toy-store delight.
A Children’s Place Bookstore — A Reader Favorite for children’s books (and grown-up reads, too) with deep Portland roots.
Green Bean Books — A Reader Favorite children’s bookstore with stories and community programming families love.
Maggie Mae’s Bookshop — A Reader Favorite for a curated selection of books and gifts in downtown Gresham.
🦸 Comic Book Shop
🏆 Winner: Books with Pictures
A Reader Favorite comic shop with a reputation for being welcoming, knowledgeable, and full of smart recommendations for every kind of reader — from first graphic novel to lifelong collector. It’s a go-to for discovering new stories and finding kid- and teen-friendly picks.
TOP 5
Rose City Comics — A Reader Favorite for weekly pulls, graphic novels, and a friendly neighborhood-shop feel.
Excalibur Comics — A Reader Favorite Portland comic shop with decades of local history.
Things From Another World — A Reader Favorite for comics, graphic novels, and collectibles with metro-area locations.
Other World Games & Comics — A Reader Favorite for comics plus tabletop energy in one stop.
Cosmic Monkey Comics — A Reader Favorite for a huge selection and classic comic-shop browsing joy.
🧺 Children’s Resale Store/Event
🏆 Winner: Beanstalk Children’s Resale
Ever sworn that your kid woke up taller after a nap? Same. That’s when Beanstalk Children’s Resale comes in pretty handy. Take in used kids’ clothing in good condition and then buy new-to-you gear for your growing kiddo. Beanstalk has online shopping now, too! Readers have voted Beanstalk to the top spot for several years now, and for good reason.
TOP 5
Hoot-N-Annie Children’s Boutique — A Reader Favorite resale boutique for kids’ and family finds.
Pass It On Sales — A Reader Favorite for big resale-event shopping energy and serious bargain hunting.
Little Love Resale — A Reader Favorite children’s resale boutique with clothing, shoes, toys, and gear.
SuperKids Resale — A Reader Favorite pop-up style resale event for clothing, toys, and kid gear.
Pinwheels Resale — A Reader Favorite for children’s and maternity resale in SE Portland.
💇 Kids Hair Salon
🏆 Winner: Sit Still Kids Salon
Let the skilled stylists at Sit Still Kids work their hair magic on your kiddo. This bright studio offers traditional cuts — from baby’s first to styling for short to long locks — as well as fun extras like temporary color and feather extensions and essentials such as conditioning treatments for little swimmers. Another fun bonus of Sit Still is the braiding class, where parents can learn five types of braids.
TOP 5
Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids — A Reader Favorite for kid-focused haircuts with a high-energy, family-friendly approach.
Kid’s Castle Cuts — A Reader Favorite Portland kids’ salon where the haircut is designed to feel fun for kids and manageable for parents.
Pigtails & Crewcuts — A Reader Favorite kids’ salon brand with a child-centered experience.
Sage Kids Salon — A Reader Favorite for youth and family haircuts, plus services geared to kids and teens.
Sharkey’s Cuts For Kids — A Reader Favorite kids’ haircut experience with locations in the region.
👕 Local New Kids Clothing
🏆 Winner: Posh Baby
A Reader Favorite for modern baby and kids’ goods and a thoughtfully curated selection that makes gifting (and registry shopping) feel much easier.
TOP 5
Oodles Kids — A Reader Favorite for kids’ gifts, toys, and clothing in Sellwood/Westmoreland.
Le’D Bug Boutique — A Reader Favorite for children’s clothing with a focus on special pieces and thoughtful brands.
The Yo Store — A Reader Favorite for playful kids’ goods alongside home and lifestyle finds.
Black Wagon — A Reader Favorite for kids’ clothing, gifts, and globally sourced brands.
Grasshopper Store — A Reader Favorite for kids’ clothes, toys, books, and gifts.
🧸 Toy Store
🏆 Winner: Thinker Toys
A Reader Favorite for gifts that feel thoughtful (and actually get played with). Families love the mix of imaginative toys, games, and creative kits — plus the kind of staff help that makes picking the right present for the right age so much easier.
TOP 5
Piccolo Mondo Toys — A Reader Favorite for creative play, puzzles, and gift-worthy finds.
Bricks & Minifigs — A Reader Favorite for LEGO fans who love to browse, trade, and build.
MudPuddles Toys & Books — A Reader Favorite for a playful mix of toys, books, and gifts.
Kids at Heart Toys — A Reader Favorite for classic toys, books, games, and plush.
Grasshopper — A Reader Favorite for toys, books, and kid gifts with a bright, modern feel.
🎲 Game Store
🏆 Winner: Bricks & Minifigs
A Reader Favorite for families who love building as play. From classic sets to minifigs and trade-in treasure hunts, it’s an easy “yes” for LEGO lovers looking for a fun shop experience that doubles as an activity.
TOP 5
Guardian Games — A Reader Favorite for tabletop games, events, and an all-ages game community.
Puddletown Games & Puzzles — A Reader Favorite for board games and puzzles, with staff who love a good recommendation.
Red Castle Games — A Reader Favorite for board games, events, and a welcoming neighborhood shop vibe.
Other World Games & Comics — A Reader Favorite for combining comics and tabletop gaming in one stop.
Cloud Cap Games — A Reader Favorite for games, puzzles, and that “let’s pick a new favorite game” feeling.
🎁 Best Experience Gift/Activity
🏆 Winner: Hopscotch
A Reader Favorite experience gift that delivers instant joy: immersive art installations, interactive rooms, and a “wow” factor that works for a wide range of ages. It’s an easy pick when you want to give something that feels like a real outing — not just another thing. Don’t miss the magic.
TOP 5
Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort — A Reader Favorite for a getaway-style gift with hot springs and big “treat yourself” energy.
Escape Games PDX — A Reader Favorite for puzzle-solving fun that feels like a mini-adventure.
Wonderwood Mini Golf — A Reader Favorite for indoor mini golf with imaginative vibes.
Skamania Lodge — A Reader Favorite for Columbia Gorge getaway magic: cozy, scenic, and activity-packed.
Portland Spirit — A Reader Favorite for cruises that turn a regular day into something memorable.
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